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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Walking through the compacted dirt across from her home, Mandarin resident Christine Conner reminisces about what used to be.

"You know what's sad? Is that my kids used to -- it was like our forest. That's where they played, you know?"

Conner bought her house 17 years ago, in large part because of the old-growth live oak right outside her door – the very kind removed in a vast interstate clear-cutting, as the Department of Transportation makes way for toll roads.

Fire was showing when fire crews arrived at the home in the 4200 block of Pilgrim Way. It is unknown at this time if anyone was in the home when the blaze broke out and a cause has not been determined.

According to city property records home is about 1,300 square feet in size. Property website Zillow.com values the home at about $126,000.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A proposed re-zoning is leaving dozens in Mandarin saying it could destroy their way of life.

At issue is about 18 acres of land off Joda Lane in Mandarin. Right now, the area only has a few residents, and a lot of land. If the re-zoning is approved, almost 70 houses would be built on those 18 acres.

"It's going to totally ruin the whole area," said Kay Boykin. She's lived in the area for almost 40 years.

"It's quiet and peaceful and serene now, and that's why we moved out here," she said.

The planned re-zoning is far from a done deal. It has to clear several committees before council can approve it. Neighbors like Boykin say an approval is a big step backward.

"This is what we want -- we want this peace and serenity out here," she said.